The Veteran
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REVIEW BY JOHN MESSER
The release of The Veteran by Frederick Forsyth marks the entry of yet another front rank writer into the electronic marketplace. At 94 pages, The Veteran, which debuted Nov. 1, is the first in Forsyth's Quintet series of five short stories being released by Online Originals. New entries in the series will be published every three weeks, with the second story, The Miracle, appearing Nov. 22. In The Veteran Forsyth again demonstrates the keen feel for detail that heightens tension and gives his stories credibility, and he also reveals a sense for this newest literary medium. The story begins with a mugging gone wrong when the victim, an older man with a pronounced limp, decides to fight back. His efforts are rewarded with a brutal beating at the hands and feet of two London thugs. Since the attack takes place in one of London's poorest and most dangerous housing estates, Detective Inspector Jack Burns is surprised when a local shopkeeper acknowledges witnessing the bloody encounter and positively identifies the attackers. With the help of one eyewitness prepared to testify, Burns tracks down two known thugs with a history of violence. He directs the painstaking research needed to bring the criminals to justice—the search for blood samples, fibers, prints and, most importantly, the limping man's wallet or any other identification. Piece by piece, strand by strand, Burns slowly builds his case against the two men until a conviction looks likely, despite the victim's anonymity. Burn's carefully crafted case takes a sudden, unexpected turn when one of Britain's rising legal stars arrives to defend the muggers pro bono. Burns has cause to ponder their lawyer's comment that the case has everything to do with "the triumph of justice." Only on the last page does the honest policeman learn the chilling explanation. The stunning conclusion reminds readers why Forsyth's legendary storytelling has sold 60 million copies and led to a dozen top-flight films. The Veteran is more than a glimpse at a work in progress; it is a gem in its own right. John Messer is a freelance writer living in Ludington, Michigan.
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